Award-winning Stanford Arms to host Broads appeal fundraiser

One of East Anglia’s best-known musicians is planning to sing and play in a music marathon this weekend to help Suffolk Wildlife Trust reach the £1million target of its Sir David Attenborough-backed Broads appeal.

Folk singer and songwriter John Ward will be hosting the beer-for-biodiversity event at the Campaign for Real Ale award-winning Stanford Arms pub, Lowestoft, on Saturday, February 17. The aim is to raise money for the trust’s bid to buy land to expand and combine its Carlton Marshes and Oulton Marshes nature reserves near Lowestoft.

Continuously from 2pm to 10.30pm, the musician and his friends and guests will provide non-stop entertainment, with Mr Ward aiming to play throughout, either solo or accompanied. A Music Marathon for the Marshes Justgiving Page has been set up and supporters can buy a request on the day, sponsor Mr Ward in his challenge or make a contribution at the pub. David and Sam Burd, who run the Stanford Arms, have also offered to make a donation from the event’s profit.

The trust’s appeal currently stands at about £850,000. The wildlife charity is striving to buy Peto’s Marsh, Share Marsh and smaller areas to increase the current nature reserves’ area by 384 acres, bringing the total to 1,011 acres and ultimately becoming the Suffolk Broads National Nature Reserve.

Sir David Attenborough has given his “whole-hearted support” to the appeal. He has urged people to “help Suffolk Wildlife Trust rescue this precious corner of East Anglia and bring back wildlife in all its splendour.”

Launched in October 2016, the campaign began after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) approved the trust’s initial plans for the land purchase, together with proposals to improve the reserve for visitors and develop wide-ranging activities for people to learn about nature and get closer to wildlife.

The HLF has awarded the trust a development grant of £246,300 to work on the detailed plans necessary to secure a full grant of £4m for the project. The trust’s appeal will go towards match-funding that grant.

Further details about the music marathon can be obtained by email from Mr Ward via www.johnward.org.uk or Facebook John Ward Music.